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RUSH Clockwork Angels

#581
4001 said:
....The Garden has to be the most emotive song they have ever done with a message that should be required reading for all citizens of the world....
"The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect"
11/10
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"Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world, than the pride that divides when a colorful rag is unfurled" ("Territories" from Power Windows).

Neil is well known for his preferences about being a Citizen Of Earth rather than being "some flag waver". I cannot help but agree. (I say that and I'm even ex-us military and an ex-streetcop. Most folks find my attitude to be quite paradoxial, the stereotype dictates that I should be the flag waver).

His stuff just makes way too much sense to me. Always has. I can't wait to own this album!! I've been purposely avoiding listening to YT and other such snippets .... I want the full-effect to hit me square in the brain by way of my stereo system.

Probably going "Amazon" for it. I also still need Rush, Caress of Steel, Fly By Night, All The World's a Stage as well as Clockwork Angles. I haven't been too impressed with anything after Presto (which .. to me .. only has a couple of worthy songs). So I cannot wait for this new treat!
 
#585
I've read how many folks have said "The Garden" is so emotive. Another one that gets me pretty bad is "Tears" from 2112. Our companion of 13 years just died in our family room on Memorial Day. Her name was Binkle (rhymes with "twinkle"). "Tears" gets me pretty choked up when I hear it, reminds of seeing her pass away before my eyes. That look in her eyes ...

Dang ... still hurts.

Binkle-ourpuppy-1.jpg


Funny how some people can become so close to the little silent ones that share our lives with us. My wife and I sure miss her. Damned cancer ... terrible wasting disease.

Sorry for the meandering nonsense.
 
#587
I agree that the mix is odd, I'm not sure it's fair comparing modern mixes w/ analog but I almost perceive that the bass and drums are mushed together, the drum sound almost sounds like they were recorded with one mic in a room instead of each individually, I can hear them but they don't seem to have the separation between the instruments they usually have, I also feel like on the anarchist etc..that when the bass pedal hits it bottoms out..too compressed. It's a great sounding mix considering the modern compression, maybe they tried to compromise, there has to be some degree of compression to keep up on the radio I suppose. Great bass sound...but to me for this album Lifeson is the star...he's just really going off here. I've always thought those "Lifeson sux" comments were particularly ignorant. Listen to his solo album, he's a huge part of their melodic influence.
 
#588
smcgov said:
I agree that the mix is odd, but to me for this album Lifeson is the star...he's just really going off here. I've always thought those "Lifeson sux" comments were particularly ignorant. He's a huge part of their melodic influence.
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Agreed. This album is VERY guitar heavy. Lifeson is dominant throughout. Maybe a little too dominant.

I wish their producer Nick would have said: "Alex, we dont need 7 guitar tracks on this one, It's awesome enough with 3!
Lets let the songs breathe a little".

I feel some of the songs are a bit "over-crowded" with too many overdubs and over-production. Hence the compressed sound

Their original producer Terry Brown recorded the band best of all the producers they've had IMHO. He really brought out the best in the band and their songs without too much production.

I miss the crisp, clear, un-cluttered production style of albums like "Farewell" and "Hemispheres".

But... those days are long gone. I do like CA. It's growing on me more and more.
 
#589
Compression for airplay? What radio stations are playing this stuff? Not the ones here in the DC area. I've been keeping my ears pealed and nada so far. Radio just totally blows now. They'll play 30-year-old Rush tracks once in a while but play BU2B? Of course not.

Are you guys hearing this on the radio in your areas?
 
#590
Barkless Dog said:
I find the mix not so great. The bass in my opinion, is too high in the mix, way over the guitar in many a lot of the songs, even over the vocals in places. I love bass as much as the next guy, but it still must serve the song.

My son even complained about it. It reminds me of the last Primus CD, Larry being buried in the mix.

Just my opinion.
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While the mix isn't clipping on the low end like the past couple albums have when released...the vocals for the most part are plain too quiet overall.

Rush did release the master tracks for download so you can basically "mix" your own version IIRC.
 
#591
4001 said:
The Garden has to be the most emotive song they have ever done with a message that should be required reading for all citizens of the world....
"The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect"
11/10
Click to expand...

Even my wife, listening to the album for the first time, said "I really like this song."

I had just finished reading Neils' book "Far And Away" and the last chapter focuses on this theme ...a measure of love and respect. So having been considering that lately and then hearing it expressed in musical form was really quite moving.

Great album, I hope they play a lot of these songs live.
 
#592
ModuMan said:
Even my wife, listening to the album for the first time, said "I really like this song."

I had just finished reading Neils' book "Far And Away" and the last chapter focuses on this theme ...a measure of love and respect. So having been considering that lately and then hearing it expressed in musical form was really quite moving.

Great album, I hope they play a lot of these songs live.
Click to expand...

I would be especially disappointed if they didn't play almost all the album lol. I mean this is the freshest stuff they have, I'd imagine they'd be chomping at the bit to play it live. The whole album will very easily blend with the rest of their catalog while still being definitive/recognizable as new.
 
#593
tangentmusic said:
Agreed. This album is VERY guitar heavy. Lifeson is dominant throughout. Maybe a little too dominant.

I wish their producer Nick would have said: "Alex, we dont need 7 guitar tracks on this one, It's awesome enough with 3!
Lets let the songs breathe a little".
Click to expand...
+1

Their original producer Terry Brown recorded the band best of all the producers they've had IMHO. He really brought out the best in the band and their songs without too much production.
Click to expand...

+1 trillion

I do like CA. It's growing on me more and more.
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Me too! I'm starting to like a couple songs I didn't care for that much.
 
#594
This album gets better every time I listen to it. What I really love about it, and Snakes and Arrows as well, is how they have a knack for writing riffs that simultaneously recall one era of the band structurally and a different era melodically. Several songs on Clockwork Angels sound like the late 80s-early 90s stuff, but with a more angular, harder-edged approach. The main riff from "BU2B" sounds like it could be on their first album. I love how they quote themselves while managing to keep it sounding fresh.
 
#597
I don't get the complaints of layered guitar. There really is very little over dubbing here. Especially compared.to S&A or Vapor Trails. I find most songs very open and alive instead of crowded.

The dynamic compression really makes it seem that way. I wish everyone had a record player. The Vinyl master is stunning.
 
#598
Flux Jetson said:
I've read how many folks have said "The Garden" is so emotive. Another one that gets me pretty bad is "Tears" from 2112. Our companion of 13 years just died in our family room on Memorial Day. Her name was Binkle (rhymes with "twinkle"). "Tears" gets me pretty choked up when I hear it, reminds of seeing her pass away before my eyes. That look in her eyes ...

Dang ... still hurts.

Binkle-ourpuppy-1.jpg


Funny how some people can become so close to the little silent ones that share our lives with us. My wife and I sure miss her. Damned cancer ... terrible wasting disease.

Sorry for the meandering nonsense.
Click to expand...


Sorry for your loss! Not to go too off topic here but, unfortunately, we had to put our dog down a couple of weeks ago. She was only 5 and got sick suddenly, they found Lyme disease in her kidneys that was too far advanced. The next day I got an advanced copy of Clockwork Angels and heard The Garden. It really made me sad..."a measure of a life..." really fit. I work from home so I didnt realize how much I interacted with her all day and it was really rough. So every time I hear The Garden I think of my dog! :bawl:

Sorry for my meandering folks!
 
#600
12bass said:
Surely you mean wimpy... and certainly never loud enough, no matter how much one turns up the volume control. I mean, what would we do without all that wonderful compression, making music sound really loud? It would be practically debilitating to take it away....
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I would most certainly walk with a limp and would find it impossible to even get out of bed in the morning if I didn't have the recordings so loud that my speakers bottom out and the compression so high that I am fooled into thinking I have the radio on.

:rolleyes:

I'm buying Clockwork Angels on vinyl just to add to my collection of the stuff. Of course I will then buy the CD as well.

But, to be quite honest, I'd actually PAY someone to provide a well-recorded vinyl-to-cd copy of my own copy of the LP, just to have that mix and that ~sound~ on CD.

I don't have a decent turntable these days or I'd do it myself. I have a 25 year old Technics, but I'm sure it needs a cartridge. I don't know if it's belt driven, if so it would probably need a belt too.

Anyhow...
 

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